2012

Mental illness has no preference for race, socioeconomic status, age, or gender and can affect anyone at any time. It is estimated that over 57 million Americans are affected by some type of mental disorder each year, with 1 in 17 living with a serious mental illness and one in ten children suffering from some type of significant mental impairment (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2011). Although recovery is possible, many individuals go untreated. According to the NIMH, only about 58% of adults diagnosed with a serious mental illness received treatment. Among these individuals, the most common types of treatment were outpatient services and medication, with the majority of these individuals (52%) using prescription medication as their form of treatment. With children, the numbers remain about the same. It is reported that only about 50% of children who were diagnosed with a mental disorder received treatment, with females being 50% less likely to use mental health services than males (NIMH, 2011).